Los Angeles, California – Marvel’s latest installment, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” is facing significant challenges just two weeks after its debut. Following a strong opening weekend that brought in $117.6 million, the film’s second-weekend performance saw an alarming drop of 66%, grossing $40 million across 4,125 theaters. This dramatic decline suggests that the movie may not be resonating with audiences beyond its dedicated fanbase.

Box office analysts had predicted a decrease of approximately 55% to 60%, making the actual fall especially striking. Despite receiving positive reviews and favorable word-of-mouth ahead of its release, “The Fantastic Four” has found it difficult to sustain its momentum in a competitive landscape. Still, the film has amassed $198 million domestically and $368 million globally, leading some to hope it can ultimately surpass earlier this year’s less successful titles.

Although “The Fantastic Four” held the No. 1 spot at the North American box office, this drop ranks among the steepest for films within Disney’s Marvel franchise. Previous Marvel entries, such as “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Thor: Love and Thunder,” have also experienced significant second-weekend declines, indicating a troubling trend for the brand.

In addition to “The Fantastic Four,” three other films opened this weekend without competing for the same audience. Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Bad Guys 2” performed well, securing $22.8 million, which aligns closely with the first film’s opening back in 2022. With an $80 million production budget, audience response has been positive, earning the film an “A” grade on CinemaScore exit polls.

Analyst David A. Gross noted the success of “The Bad Guys 2,” stating it stands as a solid opening for an animated sequel and aligns with the expectations for such releases. Meanwhile, Paramount’s comedy “The Naked Gun” debuted with $17 million from 3,344 theaters, also meeting projections. This film, featuring Liam Neeson as a bumbling detective, received positive feedback from critics and moviegoers alike.

Neon’s body-horror release “Together,” starring real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, landed in sixth place, bringing in $6.8 million during the weekend and $10.8 million over its first five days. Despite a lukewarm “C+” CinemaScore, Neon has leaned into the film’s unsettling themes for promotional efforts, even offering free therapy for couples viewing it.

Elsewhere in box office news, “Superman” slipped to fourth place, earning $13.9 million in its fourth weekend, while grossing $316.2 million domestically and $551.2 million globally. Universal’s “Jurassic World Rebirth” rounded out the top five with $8.4 million, bringing its North American total to $317 million.

The overall box office performance this weekend demonstrates a dynamic and shifting landscape, exposing the challenges even established franchises face in maintaining audience interest amidst a plethora of options.